High-tension switch



Feb. 17, 1931. v c. G. KOPPlTZ 1,793,177

HIGH TENSION SWITCH Filed Dec. 19, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 17, 1931. c. 5. KOPPITZ HIGH TENSION SWITCH Filed Dec. 19, 1929 :5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 17, 1931. a OP ITZ 1,193,177

HIGH TENSION SWITCH Filed Dec. 19, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARL G. KOPPITZ, OF GBEIENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO RAILWAY AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF GREENSBURG,

PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA PENNSYLVANIA, A. COB- HIGH-IENSION SWITOII Application filed December 19, 1929. Serial No. 415,840.

This invention relates to a high tension switching mechanism adapted for out-ofdoor service.

More particularly the invention relates to 5 a switching, mechanism wherein the switch blade is mounted on a pivoted insulator, and there is developed a high contact pressure between the jaw and blade by the rotation of a non-circular contact element within a resilient jaw to spread the latter.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a simple, rugged and inexpensive switch mechanism for out-of-door switching service.

Another object of my invention is to produce a switch for out-of-door service the operation of which will not be deterred by inclement weather, but in which good contact will be obtained between the cointact elements even though the latter are covered with dirt, ice or other foreign substances.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a switch of the high contact pressure type in which the pressure is positively and 25 automatically produced by a closing of the switch.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the entire switching mechanism,

Fig. 2 is a ragmentary elevational view, partially in section, of the switch blade and its supporting and actuating means,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the switch blade showing a modified form of the supporting and actuating means,

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the switch blade supporting and actuating means,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the switch jaw and the contact element showing1 the switchin its nearly-closed position, an

Fig. 6 is a similar view with the switch shown in its fully closed position.

A supporting member or base 1, conveniently in the form of an I beam, channel or other structural member, carries two or more depending spaced insulator columns2 and 3, the column 2 being rigidly secured to the base and the column 3 being provided with a pivotal connection 4 which permits the column 3 to be rotated about itsown axis. Secured to the lower end of the fixed column 2 is a switch jaw base plate 5 of highly con tegral socket 9 depending perpendicularly from the bottom face of the plate for the urpose of holding the U-shaped switch jaw.

y means of melted zinc poured into the socket recess, or by some equivalent means, the U-shaped switch jaw 7 is secured in the socket 9. The parallel jaws extend perpendicular to the axis of the insulator columns, and adjacent the switch jaw at the side toward the pivoted insulator column 3 is a slightly hooked stop member 10.

Secured to the bottom of the lowest insulator 11 of the rotatable insulator column 3 is a trunnion supporting member 12 having a base-plate 13 corresponding in shape to the flattened circular bottom of the insulator 11, two opposed depending pillars, 14 and 15, and a strap member, 16, extending between the pillars and bolted thereto in a position substantially parallel to the base-plate 13. The trunnion supporting member is secured to the insulator by means of bolts extendin through holes, 17,in the baselate 13, an having their heads disposed in slotted recesses, 18, in the bottom insulator, 11.- 1

Seated in bearings 'formed in the strap member, 16, and in the base-plate, 13, is a hollow trunnion, 19, through which extends a tubular switch blade, 20. The blade, through the agency of the trunnion is adapted for rotation in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the insulator column 3, and passing medially through the switch jaws, 7 and 8.

At the outer end of the switch blade, 20, is a contact element, 21, of flattened or non-circular cross-section which is provided with an integral substantially cylindrical portion,

of the switch blade, 20.' The major transverse dimension of the contact element, 21, is somewhat greater than the normal spacing of the switch jaw members, 7, 8, and the contact element is adapted, at the end of the closing movement of the switch, to rotate within the switch jaw to present itsmaximum dimension transversely of the jaw, and thereby become tightly wedged between the switch aws.

The switch blade, 20, is rotatable about its own axis, within the trunnion, 19, and is restricted from longitudinal movement within the trunnion by a segmental bevel pinion, 22, and collar, 23. As shown in Flg. 2, a torsion spring, 24, is arran ed within the switch blade, 20, one end, 25, of the spring, 24, being secured to the blade and the opposite end, 26, being fixed to a bridge member, 27, that is carried by the trunnion, 19. The spring, 24,

tends to hold the blade, 20, in such angular adjustment within the trunnion, 19, so that the plane of maximum transverse dimension of the contact element, 21, is inclined to the axis of the insulator columns and therefore inclined to the medial plane of the switch jaws, 6, 7.

The segmental, beveled pinion, 22, meshes with a segmental rack, 28, which is secured to, or preferably formed integral with, the base plate, 13, of the trunnion supporting member, 12. The torsion spring, 24, is of such strength that the rotation of the insulator column, 3, will normally cause the switch blade, 20, to rotate with the trunnion, 19, until the end of the switclr blade engages the stop, member, 10, of the switch j aw. When this occurs, the angular movement of the switch blade about the axis of the insulator column 3 is arrested and the further rotation of the insulator column operates, through the rack and bevel pinion to rotate the switch blade about its own axis to wedge the contact element across the switch jaw.

A modified form of the device is shown in Fig. 3 wherein a spring, 29, for positioning the switch, 20, with respect to the trunnion, 19, is disposed outside of, and encircling the switch blade, 20, at the trunnion end. One

end of the spring is secured to the trunnion while the other end is secured to a blade collar, 30, fixed in the switch blade.

A flexible shunt connection, 31, is provided for carrying current from the switch blade,

' contact element.

20, to the power lines (not shown) whereby the trunnion bearings do not carry any appreciable current.

Inasmuch asthe greater dimensio of the flattened portion of the contact e ement slightly exceeds the distance between the inner surfaces of the switch aws, the latter are forced apart by the wedging action of the This, of course, produces'a very hi h pressure between the contact elements 0 the switch.

The wedging of the movable contact element between the switch jaws provides intimate contact between the members, since the contact area is so small that a high unit pressure is developed. Also, because of the wiping action between the contact members, any foreign substances, such as dirt, or ice, which may have accumulated thereon will be scraped ofi.

I claim:

1. In a high contact pressure switch, a switch jaw, a switch blade, means pivotally mounting the blade for angular movement in the medial plane of the jaw, a contact element at the end of said blade and revoluble about the axis of said blade, means yieldingly positioning said contact element in predetermined angular relationship to the plane of movement of said blade, operating means ef fective through said yielding means to turn said blade to position said element within said jaw, and stop means for arresting the angular movement of said blade when said element is within said jaw, whereby continued motion of said operating means will rotate said element within said jaw.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said operating means includes intermeshing gears mounted on said blade and said mounting means respectively.

3. In a high contact pressure switch, a resilient switch jaw, an elongated switch blade, a contact element, means mounting said element on said blade for rotation with said blade about the axis thereof, said element having a transverse dimension less than the opening in the switch jaw and another transverse dimension greater than said opening, means mounting said blade for rotation in the medial plane of said switch jaw into and out of the opening in said switch jaw,

yieldable means for holding said contact element in a position that entry thereof into said opening may be efiected, and means actuated upon a continued movement of said element into said jaw for rotating said element into wedging contact with said switch jaw.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 3 wherein said last named means includes intermeshing gears carried by said blade and said mounting means respectively.

5. In a high contact pressure switch, an insulator column, a trunnion support suspended therefrom, a trunnion carried by said support, a switch blade rotatable in said trunnion, yieldable means for positioning said blade in said trunnion, a flattened contact element carried by said blade and a switch jaw cooperating with said contact element.

6. In a high contact pressure switch, a switch jaw, a contact element cooperating with said jaw, a switch blade carrying said contact element, a trunnion supporting said switch blade for rotation about its own axis, means mounting said trunnion for; rotation 

